Air-supported building



Aug. 9, 1960 H. D. TURNER AIR-SUPPORTED BUILDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1956 INVENTOR. HAROLD DALE TURNER Aug. 9, 1960 Filed Nov. 19, 1956 H. D. TURNER AIR-SUPPORTED BUILDING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

' mmow DALE TURNER fi 126w Attorney AIR-SUPPORTED BUILDING Harold Dale 'hirner, 1372 Yokayo Drive, Ukiah, Calif.

Filed NOV. 19, 1956, Ser. No. 623,093

Claims. (Cl. 135-1) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for maintaining air pressure within an air-supporting building.

It has heretofore been proposed to construct a build-' ing of lightweight flexible material substantially impervious to passage of gas therethrough and to maintain the desired form of the building by providing and maintaining air pressure within its interior. A suitable material may be rubber or plastic impregnated canvas and thus such buildings may be referred to as tents. However, the material may be lightweight sheet steel. In constructing such a building and maintaining it, it is important to maintain air pressure within the building by means which are both simple and reliable and yet which control the pressure to a relatively precise degree. -It is also desirable to maintain the air pressure within such a building with a minimum of effort and expense since although the initial cost of the building is low it is necessary to continuously introduce air into the, interior of the building to compensate for small leaks which may exist, for changes in atmospheric pressure and for air which may be lost through exits and entrances.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide an improved means for controlling the air pressure within an air-supporting building.

It is another object to provide a rugged and relatively easily maintained controlling means for the air pressure within an air-supported building which at the same time is capable of controlling said pressure with a high degree of accuracy.

It is another object of the invention to provide economical and simple means for maintaining air pressure within an air-supported building.

'Further objects will become apparent from the drawings and the following detailed description in which it is my intention to illustrate the applicability of the invention without thereby limiting its scope to less than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. V

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts and:

Figure 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an air-supported building showing one embodiment of controlling means according to the invention;

[Figure 2 is a diagrammatic partially cross-sectional view showing the operation of the control;

Figure 3 is-a perspective view of apparatus for simply and economically maintaining air pressure within an airsupported building;

Figure 4. is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another embodiment of the controlling means;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of controlling means;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the controlling means; and

[Figure 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view of another embodiment of controlling means according to the invention.

nite States Patent Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an air-supported building vindicated generally as 2 consisting of panels 3 attached to'ground or earth 1 by means not shown. The attachment of building 2 to the ground may be by any suitable means such as, for example, by stapling or nailing to logs or stakes buried in the ground or by attaching to a concrete foundation; for the sake of simplicity such means are not illustrated. Attachment may be by the method described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 623,069, filed November 19, 195.6. Panels 3 may be attached to one another by any suitable means such as adhesive or stitching; panels 3 may be of sheet steel and they may be welded together; grommets may be provided at the edges of panels 3 and the panels may be laced together.

Alongside building 2 and communicating with the inten'or thereof there may be provided enclosures 4 and 5 adapted to contain blowers and to allow air to be sucked thereinto through openings 6 and 7 which are shown as provided with grill work or screens to provide the introduction of foreign objects thereinto. A blower such as blower 8 may be contained within enclosures and may be driven by motor 9 connected to a controlling device indicated generally as 10 as shown in Figure 2. There may be provided at one side of the building a fixed member such as stake 11 provided with means for attaching an elongated flexible member such as a rope, string, tape, wire, cord or cable thereto. Cable 12 may be attached to stake 11 and may be roved through an eye or block member such as pulley 13 which may depend from the roof of the building, preferably at or near the peak and thence may extend downward and be connected to the lever arm 14 extending from controlling device 10. Any suitable elongated member adapted to be stressed in tension may be used in place of cable for member 12, for example, string, cord, wire or the like. Lever arm 14 may be one end of a bellcrank pivoted at 15 and having another arm 16 extending downwardly adapted to contact operating lever 17 extending from switch 18. Switch 18 may be any form of switch, such as a Micro switch adapted to close a circuit when operating lever 17 is pressed and to thereby allow current to flow through wires 19 to motor 9. The bellcrank may be biased by tension spring 20 connected to arm 14 and adapted to urge arm 14 downward and to thereby urge arm 16 into the position of closing switch 18.

It may be seen that the air pressure within the building will be controlled by the height of the peak of the building which may be easily measured with respect to any standard to which the apparatus is adjusted by lengthening or shortening member 12 and that the measurement is easily transposed into a controlled flow of electricity to motor 9 by the controlling apparatus consisting of controller 10, member 12 and its attachments. If at any time the peak of the building sinks slightly, pulley 13 is lowered slightly, allowing a certain amount of slack to occur in cable 12 which is taken up by the downward biasing act-ion of spring 20. At the same time as the bellcrank pivots at 15, arm 16 presses against operating member 17 and causes switch 18 to be closed, thereby causing blower 8 to be operated. As the pressure within the building is raised by introduction of air thereinto by blower 8, the peak of the building rises and pulley 13 is raised causing cable 12 to raise lever 14 and to thereby cause arm 16 to open switch 18, thereby causing the operation of blower 8 to cease. The controlling It has been found satisfactory for controlling.

any predetermined value within less than plus or minus .5 mm. of water as measured with a draft gauge. It will be recognized that controlling to this precise degree is diflicult, if not impossible of attainment with simple water, mercury, oil orv alcohol manometers or draft gauges and it has been found also far simpler, more rugged and more accurate and precise than regulators of either the Bourdon type or diaphragm type.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a large blower 8 adapted to be driven by motor 9 through V-belt 21 and small blower 22 adapted to be driven by motor 23 through V-belt 24. Blowers 8 and 22 and other blowers mentioned'hereinafter are generally preferably of the squirrel-cage type but may suitable in some instances be of the fan type, Roots-Connersville type and the like; two speed blowers may be used. Outlets 25 and 26' of blowers 8 and 22 extend through panel 3 and into the interior of an air-supported building such as building 2. For the purpose of illustrating the blowers in greater detail, panel 3 is illustrated in Figure 3 as being transparent though it is in no way necessary that panel 3 be transparent and it may equally well be merely translucent or opaque. The outer sides of outlets 25 and 26 may be sealed or attached to adjacent edges of panel 3 is any suitable manner suchas, for example, by adhesive or riveting. For the sake of simplicity no attaching means is shown. Outlets 25 and 26 are provided with closure flaps 27 and 28 hinged at the top and each provided with a counter-weight 29 and 30 adapted to maintain each of flaps 27 and 28 in a partially open position in the absence of air pressure within the building. As shown each of the flaps may be hinged at its top to the top edge of the opening over which it extends and may be provided with a rod extending parallel to the axis of said hinges and attached to the fiap. Said arm may be rigidly attached to said rod in a direction normal thereto and may support a counter-weight 29 or 30 at the end thereof. Blowers 8 and 22 and their associated motors 9 and 23 may be enclosed respectively within enclosure and 4 in order to protect them from the weather and from trespassers or vandals.

A preferred economical and simple method of maintaining air pressure within building 2 is to cause blower 22 to operate at all times to replace air lost through small leaks in the building. Counter-Weights 29 and 30 are so adjusted that when blower 22 is operating, flap 28 is sustantially wide open and thereby provides a minimum of resistance to air from outlets 26, whereas at the same time the pressure of air within the building causes flap closure 27 to swing closed and thereby seal outlet 25. This prevents air from being lost outward from the building through blower 8. Controller may be connected only to motor 9 so if for any reason, such as the opening of a door (not shown) into the interior of building 2, the air pressure falls to an extent greater than may be compensated for by blower 22, the operation of cable 12 and controller 10 causes blower 8 to be operated. When blower '8 is operating the rush of air from its outlet 25 causes flap 27 to be opened and to create a minimum of resistance thereto while at the same time the somewhat increased pressure within the building may cause flap 28 to be closed against opening 26 and to thereby prevent outflow of air being introduced into the building by blower 8. When the pressure within the building is again raised sufficiently to cause pulley 13 to be lifted and to thereby cause control 10 to stop the operation of blower 8, the flaps 27 and 28 are automatically returned to the previously described positions.

The construction and maintenance of an air-supported building in accordance with this disclosure, using a control of the type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 4 and 2 and a large and small blower as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 has been found to be practical, economical, simple and satisfactory for providing year around control ofair-pressure within the building, The

most extreme conditions to which the system is subjected are normally encountered in the winter time when winds buffet the structure and snowfalls place relatively heavy loads on its upper portion. The air pressure within the building must be automatically increased to prevent the buildings being blown about or whipped by wind which may attain velocities as high as eighty miles per hour in some gusts and also must be increased to balance snow loads which may be created by several inches of snow deposited on top of the structure. It has been found that the controlling apparatus and blower arrangement of the invention adequately maintain proper air pressure when a building of the type described is subjected to gusts of seventy miles an hour and snow loads of approximately four or five inches in depth.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown another embodiment wherein air-supported building 2 is attached to ground or earth 1 by means of batten 30 engaging the lower edges of panels 3 in channeled member 33.. Batten Sill and channel member 31 may be bolted with bolts 32 to the upper portion of concrete foundation 33. Blower 8 will be contained within enclosure 34 and may be arranged to introduce air into the interior of the building and to be controlled by controller '10 which may be operated by cable 36. Cable 36 may be attached at one end to ring 37 which may be securely attached to the upper portion of foundation 33 and at the other end to arm 14 of controller 14 Instead of passing through a single pulley at the apex of the building, it may pass through three pulleys 38, 39 and 40, secured to the building at suitably spaced points. The provision of a plurality of pulleys as shown in Figure 4 in place of a single pulley as illustrated in Figure 1 makes the control more sensitive to non-uniform exterior forces exerted against the buidling; such forces occur when a gust of wind strikes the building or when snow is deposited during a high wind which sweeps the snow off one side and deposits it on the other, or when an uneven snow load is created by melting of snow on only one side of the structure.

The essential nature of a control according to my invention is that the air pressure the building is controlled by directly determining the inward movement of the building itself or a portion thereof as shown in Figures 5 and 6, othersimple means may be utilized to accomplish such control. For example, as shown in Figure 5, a cable 41, may be attached to the skin of building 2" either at or near its apex or at some other point and may be directly connected to one end of lever 43. Lever 43 may be pivoted at 44 on any suitable stationary support 45 and may be biased downward by spring 46. When lever 43 is moved downward it may depress a member 17 adapted to close a switch 18 and thereby cause the blower, such as blower 8, to operate. Maintenance of pressure within the building may be accognplished as described in connection with Figures 1 an 2.

Although the means shown in the embodiments of the figures for determining movements of the flexible skin of the building as a function of internal pressure or, more accurately, the differential pressure between interior pressure and exterior pressure of the ambient atmosphere, and translating this determination intoa' signal for controlling draw-ing means for blowers are generally mechanical in nature, it should be understood that the invention encompasses the use also of electronic, optical and even sonic means for this purpose. For example, a strain gauge may be utilized in determining movement of the flexible covering of the building or a mirror may be so attached to the covering that movement of the latter causes the mirror to reflect a light beam onto a' photocell and thereby activate a switch; such means are however generally delicate and the mechanical means of the figures are generally preferred.

As shown in Figure 6 there may be provided within an air-supported building 2" a stationary support 50 and mounted thereon there may be provided a switch 18. Pivotally attached to support 50 at pivot 51 there may be provided a lever 52 having its end 53 in contact with a point on the interior surface of building 2" and its other end directly above operating lever 17 of switch '18. It may be biased into contact with building 2" by tension spring 54 attached at one end to lever 52 and at the other to an extending portion of support 50. If at any time the air pressure within building 2" is diminished, interior movement of the wall thereof causes end 53 of lever 52 to be forced inward and thereby causes the other end of lever 52 to press against the operating member 17 adapted to close switch 18 which may in turn be connected to any suitable means such as blower 8 for introducing air into the interior of building 2!!! Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown another controlling apparatus according to the invention. Afiixed to the flexible skin 3" of an air-supported building by any suitable means such as by rivets 60 there may be supporting members 61 on the interior thereof. Each of members *61 may extend inwardly from the inner surface of flexible material 3'? and may terminate in a piJvotal joint 66 with supporting member 65 which may thus be supported between members 61 approximately parallel to skin 3". Slidably engaged with members 65 there may be provided a rod 62 substantially perpendicular to the surface of flexible material 3". One end of rod 62 may be provided with a disc 63 adapted to bear against the interior surface of material '3". Rod 62 and disc '63 may be biased thereagainst by compression spring 64. The other end of rod 62 may be in contact with operating member 17' of switch18'. Switch 18 may be identical with switch 18 except that switch 18 is adapted to be closed when pressure is removed from member 17 and is adapted to be opened by the application of pressure to member 17.

If at any time air pressure within the air-supported building diminishes, the tension on material 3 is diminished and the portion of skin 3" between members 61 together with red 62 and disc 63 are forced outwardly by compression spring 64, thus removing pressure from member 17, closing switch 118' and causing a suitably connected blower to operate. As a result of outward movement of skin 3" the distance between supports 61 is shortened and the upper ends of supports 61 are forced closer together in a manner made possible by providing pivoted joints 66. As pressure is increased within the building, the tension or taut-ness of material 3" is increased and, like a diaphragm, it tends to assume a relatively flatter form, and to depress rod 62 into contact with member 17'. Switch 18' is thus opened and operation of the blower is caused to cease.

Although I have disclosed several embodiments of the control of my invention, certain variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is my intention to cover all such variations which depend upon controlling the air pressure within a building as a function of the movement of the building itself or a portion thereof. Although I have illustrated only one large blower and one small blower as suitable for maintaining a pressure according to the invention, it will be seen that with relatively large buildings there may be utilized a series of three or even four or more blowers, each larger than the next and each provided with a closure for its outlet into the building which may be automatically operated by coaction of the forces of air pressure within the building, air pressure within the blower and gravity to cause its outlet to be closed when it is not operating to thereby reduce the load imposed upon the operating blowers by reducing the amount of air outflow from the building.

It may be mentioned that the controlling apparatus and air introduction devices of the invention may be suitably utilized with air-supported buildings constructed 7 from any suitable flexible materials including those which comprise paper, synthetic resin films, rubber films, foil, fabrics and the like or laminates comprising such materials, wherein the flexible material utilized in the building is either unreinforced or reinforced with filaments, strands, cords, cables or ropes of metal, natural fibers, synthetic fibers or other material. Thin sheet steel which has been mentioned heretofore is generally not preferable since its flexibility is relatively low and in the case of, for example, the embodiment of Figure 7 the span between supports 61 would have to be relatively great for the control to be effective.

Itmay thus be seen that my invention is broad in scope and is not to be limited, excepting by the claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:

1. In an air-supported building comprising a covering member of flexible material and blower means adapted to introduce air into the interior of said building, said blower means being provided with a switch, apparatus for controlling air pressure within said building comprising means which moves as a result of movement of at least a portion of said covering member and means for causing said movement of said means to operate said switch, said switch being adapted to cause operation and non-operation of said blower means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said means, which moves as a result of movement of at least a portion of said covering member, comprising a substantially rig-id member spring-biased against a portion of the interior of said covering member and connected to said switch adapted to cause operation and non-operation of said blower means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said means, which moves as a result of movement of at least a portion of said covering member, comprising a substantially rigid lever member hingeably connected to a substantially fixed support and spring-biased against a portion of the interior of said covering member and connected to said switch adapted to cause operation and non-operation of said blower means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said means, which moves as a result of movement of at least a portion of said covering member, comprising supporting members attached to and extending inwardly from a portion of said covering member, a transverse member hingeably connected to said supporting members, and members supported by said transverse member and spring-biased against a portion of the interior of said covering member, said spring-biased member being operatively connected to said switch adapted to cause operation and non-operation of said blower means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized by said cover-ing member being provided with an eye member depending therefrom, which moves as a result of movement of at least a portion of said covering member, comprising an elongated flexible member extending from a substantially fixed member at one side of the building, thence through the eye of said eye member and thence into connected relation with an operating lever at the other side of said building, said lever adapted to operate said switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,302,182 Lanchester Apr. 29, 1919 2,297,150 Hunter Sept. 29, 1942 2,511,494 Cohen June 13, 1950 2,593,824 Wilson Apr. 22, 1952 2,649,101 Suits Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2 948 286 August 9, 1960 Harold Dale Turner It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

for air-supporting" read airline 14 for "suitable" read for sustantially read Column 1 line l6 supported column 3 suitably line 47 substantially column 4, line 22 for "will" read may line 58 for "movements" read.-- movement be" insert, provided --g column 5, line 20 after Signed and sealed this 31st day of January 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Ho AXLINE Attesting Officer ROBERT C. WAT-SUN Commissioner of Patents 

